The headlines from this year’s Results Day saw more students placed than ever and stronger grades across the board. But universities are facing tougher competition and changes in what subjects applicants want to study.
UCAS’s official results release, DataHE’s sector analysis, and IDP’s live student search data together give us the most detailed picture yet of who is winning, where demand is growing, and how students are making decisions in real time.
Placements reach a new high
By Results Day, 439,180 applicants across all ages and backgrounds had secured a university place, a 3.1% increase on last year and the highest total ever recorded. Among UK 18-year-olds, more than 255,000 were placed, up 4.7% on 2024. Importantly, 82% of offer holders achieved their first-choice place – proof that this cycle has been about getting into the right institution, not just any.
DataHE analysis shows the placed rate has climbed to 73.5%, the highest in recent years. Grades are also stronger: the share of A*/A awards rose 0.4%, the average grade improved from BBC to BBB, and more than a third of students achieved AAB or higher. Widening participation also continued to improve, with acceptances from the most disadvantaged areas rising by 6.4% in England, 5.3% in Wales and 5.5% in Northern Ireland.
Clearing: Fast start, more potential
Clearing has opened at record pace. On Results Day itself, nearly 17,000 students secured places – the highest first-day total ever. So far, around 43,000 have been recruited through Clearing, and forecasts suggest the final figure could reach 75,000, overtaking both 2023 and 2024.
With more than 90,000 unplaced applicants still in the market, Clearing remains critical. IDP’s live search data shows their strongest interest lies in Medicine, Law, Computer Science and Economics, giving institutions a clear sense of where to focus their late-cycle recruitment.
Subject trends: Winners and losers
Subject choices have shifted. UCAS figures show that Engineering & Technology (+12.5%), Mathematical Sciences (+10.5%), and Law (+10.4%) have seen the strongest growth in placements. Health & Medicine continues to dominate both placements and live search interest, reflecting strong demand from UK 18- and 19-year-olds.
On the other hand, Computing, Applied & Pure Sciences, and Humanities & Languages have lost ground, with noticeable drops in both search share and final acceptances. IDP data also confirms that while Law, Maths and Dentistry courses held steady in the top 10 searches, courses like History, Biomedical Science and Physiotherapy have slipped back.
Universities: Who’s growing fastest
UCAS data shows that higher-tariff universities have seen the strongest growth in acceptances (+7.2%), followed by medium-tariff (+4.5%) and lower-tariff (+1.4%) providers. Many of the most competitive institutions have also sustained recruitment activity beyond Results Day, securing more high-achieving students in fast-growing areas such as Engineering, Maths, and Law.
International recruitment has been positive overall (+2.9%), but uneven. China leads the way, with acceptances up 13% year-on-year to 12,380, while India has dipped slightly, leaving many institutions to rely more heavily on domestic growth.
What it means for universities
Results Day 2025 confirms strong demand for higher education, but also sharper competition and a changing mix of subjects. For universities, the immediate challenge is twofold: holding on to firm-choice students by delivering seamless enrolment and support, and acting quickly in Clearing to convert the 90,000 potential students still unplaced with precise, subject-level messaging.
The challenge now isn’t just filling places, it’s keeping students engaged and supported once they arrive. Universities that can deliver on their promises and create a strong student experience will be best placed to turn this record intake into lasting success.
As Kim McLellan at Hunterlodge sums it up:
“Clearing has never been more brutal. What was once a safety net for students is now a lifeline for universities trying to fill their places.”
If you need help with your clearing campaigns, late-cycle recruitment, or international positioning, get in touch: mailto: kim.mclellan@hunterlodge.co.uk